Search Archives

Rare “Area Of Concern” Identified By Lovie

May 18th, 2014

Though it would be nice to be 22 years old entering his third NFL season, Joe would not want to be Bucs return man Eric Page this morning.

Speaking yesterday to local media, Lovie Smith gave a rare glimpse into something that might be giving him angst. After spending so many years in Chicago with Devin Hester, now a proud member of the Falcons, Lovie sees to be unsettled by the Bucs’ equivalent.

“Punt return. Our punt returner is an area of concern for us a little bit,” Lovie said. “So it was good to see some of the guys [in rookie minicamp] and whether they could do it or not.”

Now was Lovie expressing concern for Page? Or is punt returner an “area of concern” because Lovie is unsure he has a backup for the position on the roster?

That’s a mystery.

Joe’s a fan of Page, who missed his rookie season in Denver with a blown ACL. Last season, Page finished as the NFL’s tied-for-13th-ranked punt returner, among guys with 15 or more returns.

27 Responses to “Rare “Area Of Concern” Identified By Lovie”

How can Demps not be a factor here? I mean if he can’t catch the ball, or does not have the ‘vision’ for running lanes, aren’t those basic necessary skills needed to be a football player (at his RB position)?

I was not impressed with Page last season. I was unaware he was coming off of an injury his rookie season. I say he deserves camp to prove he can step it up….but if it’s like last years play then we need someone else. My guess is he does not make the final 53.

Pablo, you won’t see VJ or ME13 returning punts. Watkins wouldn’t either because you dint take that risk. It would be stupid to have any of them returning punts. Leave it to WR3 or backups to do that work. Hell some D guys can do it to. Also Pablo….Evans>Watkins.

Rrsrq: who cares? The past is done. We need to find someone who can do it now.

I too would prefer the sprinter to be the returner, particularly if the guy has good vision. He is a RB so vision he had better have. If not then he shouldn’t make the team. If he can’t field pints then he needs to work on that for the next couple of months and hopefully figure it out. Catching seems like a requisite skill to have at his position as well.

Special teams right now is a definite concern. Page must still also make the team as a receiver and that is not a given. But also ST’ers are made up of a lot of backup players especially LB’s. And what is one of the weakest spots we have for depth.. LB! This could be one of the areas ROY C. was also thinking about in his article. We purged a lot of our starters from ST from last years roster and someone please show me who we have to replace them? Can’t see any of our draft picks contributing on ST. We are overstocked on DL and weak at depth at CB and LB. A lot of choices to be made.

Lovie’s search is being driven by the reference standard. It isn’t that Page is so bad, it’s that Lovie had the reference standard and he knows how a STs ace can change a game. He’s turning over every rock and looking into every crevice trying to find that guy. Page, Patton, Sims, Demps, Herron et al will be thoroughly vetted trying to find some magic. The problem is Hester, like Deion, only comes along once in a decade, maybe longer! Good luck, Lovie!

Pablo, I will admit that I said Watkins at 7, but then I saw more game film and analysis and started chanting for Evans or Mack at 7. I wasn’t set on Sammy and don’t think he will have as big an impact as Evans. Watkins will be ok in the league, but I don’t see Megatron like capabilities out of him.

Page returned Kick-offs last year. This team has been stood on it’s head, are you saying that he will only return kick-offs this year or do you know for sure that he makes the team? Your opinion , please!

Returning punts takes a lot more concentration than returning kickoffs. It can also bite you in the butt big time on a fumble. NFL punters kick so high with a spiral, that catching a football that’s curving on the way down in the wind takes a special talent. You have to have confidence in your returner. Area of concern ? I thought it was the rice paper thin offensive line. One significant injury along with Carl Nicks not coming back would paralyze this team. Oh well, some more high draft picks next year.